At that moment, Anne's face turned towards the doorway in surprise. In looking, Jane saw Mr Rochester and Mr Eshton rounding the corner and stepping into the doorway, talking and laughing together.
"Hello, my darling" Edward said, looking forward blankly, waiting to hear her voice in response.
"Hello! You are indeed back earlier then you anticipated" Jane said, rising to meet her husband.
"Business in town was able to be completed in a much shorter time then they expected" Eshton said as Edward wrapped his arm around Jane's waist. Anne looked to Jane quickly from under her brow before standing and walking towards her own husband. Eshton smiled at her before turning back to Jane and Mr Rochester.
"Ms Rochester, would you be so kind as to show me around your lovely gardens? I would take Edward but I fear he would not do it justice".
"Oh, I have every faith that Edward could give you the most vivid descriptions of it, but I would be very happy to do so".
Anne looked momentarily hurt and surprised. A sad pang in Jane's stomach prompted her to squeeze her husbands arm.
"-That is, Ms Eshton, if you would be so kind as to accompany me down to the river. I fear I have not had the pleasure of speaking to you more then in passing since we have meet"
A small smile curled at the corners of Jane's mouth. Their thoughts were indeed perfectly in tune.
"Yes Mr Rochester, such would be lovely".
Extending his arm towards the door, Edward invited Anne to walk with him out of the front doors. Jane turned back to her walking companion.
"Shall we walk, Mr Eshton?"
The day was turning into night. The slight heat that was in the air that day had been replaced with a brisk wind. The last of the summer flowers in the garden had fallen victim to frost and the leaves on the tree's were starting to faintly turn to warmer colors.
"I always believed you could have been a scientist, Ms Rochester"
"Do you think so?"
"Indeed I do. You always seemed to have a keen eye for observation. I see it now in you as you survey the garden"
"You flatter me sir. I survey the garden to admire it's beauty which is great at this time of year. I do not however analyze it in any scientific way for I would not know where to start".
"And you think because you think as a woman you are incapable of grasping it?"
Jane looked to him, "No, certainly not. Rather, I do not know that I can look on a thing of such beauty with a critical eye".
"I was ready to rebuttal any claim of womanhood standing in your way, for you have a husband who speaks so highly of you and your ability to do whatever you set your mind to that such a statement would be impossible".
"He is wonderfully supportive and encouraging, he has always been so".
"And yet, you are a far better person then he. You have transformed him"
'Once again, you flatter me. But his influence makes me a better person, and I believe I influence him in the same way".
"I know that" Eshton said, warmly smiling at Jane. "You perhaps just had more work"
Jane suppressed a smile.
"And how do you yourself find marriage? For I know that for many years did not believe yourself to be the marrying kind"
"Anne is wonderful. She is a lovely woman. She is caring and kind and very good to me. I think that we are well suited for one another for time spent together and time spent apart is equally important to us. I fear I have burdened her with the amount of time I spend working however. I could indeed explain to her the work I am doing yet I fear she would have no interest in it-"
"Perhaps you could ask her' Jane suggested,"It is possible that she will be more interested then you suspect"
Looking slightly amused but convinced, Eshon nodded.
"You are right, Ms Rochester. I shall ask her on the carriage ride home. To assume is rather unfair".
Jane smiled at him
"I think that would be a very good promise to keep, Mr Eshton"
He stopped his walking to look at her.
"I am normally a very personal man that prefers to keep things to himself and yet I have just told you one of my deepest fears, how do you do it?".
Before Jane could respond he turned back towards the house gaining energy, walking faster then before, grinning.
"It is you women! Women all have the skill of deception and trickery, that is why men continue to fall for your kind. We cannot help wanting to study it up close!"
. . . .
"Cannot help wanting to study it up close?" Edward said, undressing that night before Jane. He crawled over her on the bed, his shirt half tangled around his wrists.
"Well I can't help but agree with him there"
He kissed her cheek sweetly before drawing back and pulling on his nightshirt.
"I must be careful what I tell Eshton about you or soon I will be referring to you as Ms Eshton"
"Oh well I don't know about that. I do not know if my countenance could bare in-laws that put me in a military fortress of a home with furniture that has not been changed since the 1700's. Besides, they would never approve of a governess as a daughter".
"For the record" he said, sliding into bed beside his wife, "My parents would not have approved of you either"
"Oh, is that true?"
Edward massaged Jane's back automatically as he grinned.
"No, certainly not. You are a woman with spirit, they never could have consented to that".
"And would that have changed anything?" Jane asked, pushing him gently onto his back and placing her chin on his chest.
"Not for an instant". His lips kissed her softly.
Jane rolled over in the bed moving to the outside so that she could feel the cool sheets. She suddenly felt very warm and rather uncomfortable. She sat up on the edge of the bed, pinning her hair up loosely to keep it from falling warmly around her face. Confused, Edward felt for her and touched her back.
"Jane, are you well?"
"I am well but very warm".
She stood, pulling her nightgown over her head and throwing it back on the bed behind her. Edward felt it to see what it is as Jane opened the window.
"Jane Rochester you best make sure there are no young men down in that garden tonight" he called from the bed.
Jane laughed, the breeze that hit her body was cooling and she felt immediately better.
"I don't know what came over me. I am just so warm".
As Jane stood at the window she heard Edward rise from the bed. He brought the armchair from in front of the fire to her and laid it down behind her.
"Sit, my darling".
Jane moved her husband into the chair before sitting on his lap.
"In being able to sit on your lap it provides an extra boost so that I can feel the breeze better. But, if you would rather be in bed-"
"No, no I am quite contented here" he assured her, resting his head against the side of the chair. His fingers trailed along her side and his face twisted into concern.
"By God Jane your skin is like fire".
She leaned into his touch on her forehead, closing her eyes.
"Should I call for a doctor?"
"No, no, I shall be well soon enough".
They sat for quite some time by the window. It was an especially dark night and as a result it was easy to see the stars as they hung in the heavens. Jane hummed quietly to herself, admiring the night sky and the sound of the wind moving through the trees.
"Do you know that I think you have the prettiest voice in the world"
"I know that you lie, for you have been a guest at the largest and most celebrated opera houses in the world, and thus you have heard all the most splendid voices in the world".
"Well, I wasn't about to suggest you audition for Die Zauberflöte, but your voice is unique and it is yours, so I love it. Besides, you are rather shy about your voice so I know when I hear it you must be happy, or, at least you are at peace".
"Do you remember-" Jane began, drawing her legs up to her chest, "When we were first engaged you asked me to accompany you on piano while you sang only for me to be swept from the bench-"
"Jane do not mention such an occasion. It pains me to think of it"
"Why?"
"Because, I should have let you fumble on the piano for as long as you like, without interruption"
Jane grinned, playing thoughtlessly with his hair.
"You can make it up to me now, if you would like" Jane said
"And how is that?"
"You can tuck me into bed, and kiss me goodnight and be next to me when I wake up in the morning".
He lifted Jane into his arms, looking unseeingly into her face.
"How is it that my amends is what I love to do most in the world".